I'm sorry for the lagging update. I'll work on it more. I don't own Spirited Away!
-.-
Ch. 7
Morning came and sunlight slipped through the small cracks in the blinds perfectly hitting Chihiro's eyes. She dug her face deeper into her pillow to hide her eyes from the annoyance. She moved in her warm spot and noticed that her pillow was Haru's arm and that her best friend's other arm lay atop of her, holding her in a loose hug. She reached upwards trying to wiggle her way out of his grasp. Only, she determined it was useless. Chihiro pinched his cheeks and his eyelids fluttered.
"Wakey wakey." she giggled.
He let go and rubbed his eyes. "You okay?" he asked groggily.
She nodded and a yawn simultaneously escaped her.
"What time is it?" Haru asked.
She checked her watch. "Six."
He looked at her waiting for what part of day, "In the morning Haru."
He got up and stretched, then held his hand out for Chihiro to take.
"Wanna explore?" she said.
"Chi, are you crazy, what if there are killer demons out there?"
"At six in the morning?" she mocked.
"Yes, at six in the morning."
Chihiro and Haru peaked out of their room. They skimmed the halls and stepped out cautiously.
The two continued down the narrow path and a cold breath tickled Chihiro's neck. She spun and nearly tripped. Haru caught her and glared at Akira instinctively.
"What?" she said playfully.
Haru narrowed his eyes at her muttering a small, "Nothing."
Akira returned the angry glare with her own and she began to float again. Kohaku reached for Akira and dragged her back down. "You're going to scare her." he said frustrated.
"I'm fine." Chihiro reassured.
"Are you hungry Chihiro?" he asked in a softer tone. He directed his gaze at her and she felt a small flutter in her chest. For a moment they both exchanged silence; staring at one another.
Haru nudged Chihiro and answered for her, "Yeah we are."
After they ate, Chihiro explained to Kohaku that she wanted to explore outside. She had grown rather close to the open air since she was younger. Adventuring became quite natural to her and Haru too. It was Haru who continuously followed after Chihiro though. He would always say it was to 'protect her'.
Kohaku immediately agreed to take Chihiro around and Haru joined in reassuring his spot to stay close to Chihiro. Kohaku sighed agreeing of course. But it would be hard for him to get Chihiro to notice him or even fall for him if he had Haru continuously sticking to her at this rate. He respected the fact that this 'Haru' character was trying to protect her and that he had been there for her. How could he not appreciate that or come to terms with the fact that he was an important man in her life. However, he needed alone time, they didn't have an eternity left. It wasn't like Chihiro would magically remember him and fall in love.
Kohaku sighed again.
As the four of them began their mini adventure into a nearby village, Kohaku pulled Akira to the side allowing Haru and Chihiro to wander in front of them.
"Please give me some alone time with her."
"As much as I really want her to fall in love with you, I really don't like her bestie over there." she whined.
"Please." he pleaded with her trying to give her a reason to help him. He began offering up things he knew she liked.
"Yeah, yeah. Okay, I'll do it. You are so in my debt."
She rushed over to Haru. Akira urged Haru and Chihiro to get a better view at a wonderful point on a tall hill to see the fields. As they got closer to the hill that would give them the best view Akira shoved Haru.
"Haru!" Chihiro called after him.
Kohaku jumped up, transforming into a silvery dragon and sped up to catch Haru. As he lifted Haru up he fainted.
He put him down and Chihiro ran to him.
"This is not what I meant Akira" Kohaku whispered furiously.
Akira felt no remorse, heck, Kohaku was the hero! She got to mess around with Haru. Plus, now that Haru was knocked out, Kohaku had some alone time with Chihiro.
Chihiro inspected him only to find a few scratches on his right arm.
"Thank goodness." she said within a huge sigh.
"Sorry." Kohaku said.
"No, it's not your fault. I'm sure Akira feels bad about this already. He's not hurt badly either. We just need to be more careful." she said.
"Well-" Akira began.
Kohaku whipped his head around. His look told Akira to keep quiet and she tried not to laugh as she nodded attempting look like she felt bad. "You're too kind Chihiro. I'm really sorry though. Do remind Haru that when he wakes up." she insisted.
The group returned to Kohaku's house and set Haru in the guest room.
Akira said she would go buy more groceries and Kohaku and Chihiro sat on the couch. She was ranting on and on about her worries for Haru. She quickly stopped herself mid sentence. "Oh, sorry. I'm kinda too concerned." she said shyly. She didn't want to come off as annoying. Despite what Haru had warned her about, she still didn't want to rub off on Kohaku the wrong way especially when they were in his care.
She breathed out thinking about how Haru was only trying to protect her. 'Think of Haru.' she reminded herself.
"-Hiro?" The young man said.
"Hmm?" Chihiro finally said realizing he was speaking to her.
"Chihiro?"
"Yes Kohaku?"
"Um, I-" he stopped himself short and bit his lip. He thought of himself. Maybe asking her about her life was too personal. Would she be freaked out? He picked a
different topic. "That bracelet." he pointed to a purple sparkly band that clung to her wrist.
"Oh this?" she said staring at the band. "It's not a bracelet. It's a hair tie."
"It's really shiny." he stated.
"Yeah, it only sparkles when I got close...to the cave. Oh, maybe it's magic."
"Magic?"
"It sounds silly huh?"
"No, of course not. I turn into a dragon, magic isn't silly."
"Oh sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I'm just not use to speaking to someone who wasn't really human." she said laughing awkwardly hoping he wouldn't take offense to that.
He laughed with her and felt more at ease.
They continued to make small talk and Chihiro felt like she had instinctively known some of what he was telling her. She just knew he was hard working, serious and trustworthy. Of course at first it would look like she had the right idea about him. In fact she felt like her description was spot on but there was more to it. He had thanked her for saving him. The river she worked hard to save and rebuild. That must have been it right? That familiar feeling. Chihiro had fallen into that river as a child and she knew why she felt like she knew him. It had to be some sort of familiar magic casted on her. Yup, that had to be it.
R & R Please!
